An extension of the Common Sense Journalism monthly column by Doug Fisher, former broadcaster, newspaper reporter and wire service editor. From new media to old, much of journalism is just plain common sense."In matters of style, swim with the current; in matters of principle, stand like a rock." - Unknown (often improperly attributed to Thomas Jefferson)
"It is difficult to get a man to understand something when his salary depends upon his not understanding it." - Upton Sinclair
"Common sense is not so common" - Voltaire
"Common sense is instinct; enough of it is genius" - George Bernard Shaw

Wednesday, June 24, 2009

Sanford

I am watching Gov. Mark Sanford implode on live TV. (You can find all the stories easily on the Web. No need for me to link.)

I stay far away from politics on this blog for a reason. Yet, it is impossible to watch what has gone on in this state for the past eight years, and all the recent rancor and bile over Sanford's refusal of federal stimulus money, etc., and not just shake my head in pity, shame, sorrow, frustration and anger.

What I wrote on Facebook:Watching the news conference. Not surprising in one way, so WTF unbelievable in another. Clinton raised infidelity to an art, the GOP has just made it into widgets.

I'll let all the pundits take it from here. (But, damn, do I wish I were back running a statehouse bureau.)----

OK, after listening to the talking heads, a couple of quick observations:-- I'm not a betting man, but I'm betting Sanford will resist resigning. I'm not sure he wants Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer (known to be a bit flaky himself) in the seat of power and with a head-start on next year's governor's race.-- I'm not sure House Speaker Bobby Harrell and others who have eyes on the governor's office want Bauer to have that either. (For now Harrell et al. are staying civil.)-- Sanford already was a lame duck. Now he's a dead duck. He can just about give up any chance of getting anything he wants past the Legislature in his final year.-- Katon Dawson, former state GOP chair, told Fox News that other pols were "lining up" to fill the vacuum. They were lining up anyhow. Now they can just be more open about it.

Not that Sanford had much influence in this anyhow, but this pretty much takes away any power of suasion he might have had to keep the GOP rabble sort of civil leading up to the 2010 election. Now, it's get out the knives and other weapons. This promises to be a bloody spectator sport.

Yes, I do coaching and consulting. That is the only shameless commerce you'll get from me here. Go to the bottom of the blog for more details.
Who am I: A longtime print and broadcast reporter/editor/producer and then AP news editor who now professes journalism at the University of South Carolina. (But please note, nothing on this blog represents official university policy or sentiment. If it did, I'd be very concerned.)My point: That journalism is a great occupation, that most journalism is common sense and that our problems arise when we sometimes don't use it.What's covered: My interests center on editing and writing and on editors and the challenges they face in a changing environment. I'm convinced editors are not being trained enough to face these challenges, but that common sense rules the day. I'm heavily involved in Newsplex, the new-media newsroom at the University of South Carolina. But my interests are wide-ranging, so anything, from ethics to some aspects of Web design, is fair game.
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Common Sense Journalism &nbspYes, I do seminars and consulting. Among those I have worked with are the SNPA Traveling Campus, S.C. Press Association, N.Y. Press Association, Georgia Press Association, Mississippi Press Association, Virginia Press Association, Landmark Community Newspapers, American Copy Editors Society, Society of Professional Journalists, Lancaster (S.C.) News, The (Rock Hill, S.C.) Herald, The (Sumter, S.C.) Item, the Internal Revenue Service and the Social Security Administration. Contact me for more information.